Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup Prediction

Betting Tips

Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have so far played only two ODIs and on both occasions Sri Lanka have emerged as winners.

Prediction Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2018

Sri Lanka will win this game

Afghanistan would kick-start their campaign in Asia Cup 2018 as they take on Sri Lanka at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. It would be an interesting contest given that both sides match each other in terms of firepower. This isn’t something that we could have said till few years ago when Afghanistan were struggling to make their mark in the top league. Over the last two years Sri Lankan team has been going through a rough patch in their ODI history while Afghanistan has showed tremendous improvement in the 50 over format over the last couple of years. All in all the game is expected to be a thrilling encounter where both sides would battle it out to qualify for the Super Four stage.

Afghanistan

Asghar Afghan is leading a group of inspired men who are committed to establishing their foot everywhere they go. The improvement trajectory for this team has been tremendous and perhaps no other ODI side in the last few decades could claim to have shown such remarkable development in such a short span of time. In the last two years they have won 19 out of their 34 games. Having shown their class against Bangladesh and Ireland in the recent T20 and ODI series the team would be hoping to take a giant leap in this tournament as they lock horns with the big boys of Asian cricket.

The side has a decent batting order with the hard hitting Mohammad Shahzad at the top. In Rahmat Shah they have an ever dependable No. 3. Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi make up for a strong middle order and the skipper would hope these men to play their best game in the contest. It is however their bowling that makes them threatening and the name Rashid Khan immediately comes to our mind. Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Aftab Alam would shoulder the responsibility for the attack and in these dry conditions where the team would hope their spinners to see them through in the contest.

Sri Lanka

They enjoyed the status of being one of the strongest sides in Asia Cup’s history but skipper Angelo Mathews would know that he isn’t leading the best Sri Lankan team ever. Their performance over the last two years have been awful to say the least as they have gone from one series loss to another. The frequent chopping and changing hasn’t helped the side settle and with seven men having led the side in the last two years is the perfect summary of the state they find themselves in. Mathews would hope his side comes up with better performances in this tournament to offer their fans something to cheer about.

In the batting department the Sri Lankan team has been found wanting on most occasions in the last couple of years but they would depend on Upul Tharanga, Kusal Perera and Thisara Perera who have been among the runs. Along with skipper Mathews in the middle order they would expect to score big against the Afghan attack which has impressed but are still inexperienced playing against the bigger teams. The bowling for the side would rest on Lasith Malinga and his new ball partner Suranga Lakmal who has been shaping up well over the last two seasons. Akila Dananjaya along with Thisara will take charge of the middle overs with their spin and hope to get best out of these conditions.

Afghanistan looks a strong team going into this match but with their overall experience Sri Lanka are little ahead and favourites to win this game.

About the Author

Darren Williamson is an experienced football writer and tipster, covering everything from the Premier League to League Two. Darren also closely follows European football, cricket, and tennis and lives just outside London with his family. He counts music, food and travel among his non-sporting interests, but can’t go too long without taking in a sporting event or two